Uttar Pradesh Government Reverses Wheat Sale Policy, Eases Registry Mandate
In a significant move aimed at providing relief to the agricultural community, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday that farmers will now be permitted to sell their wheat at government procurement centres without the previously mandatory requirement of a farmer registry. This decision marks a reversal of an earlier state policy that had made registration compulsory for selling produce and accessing various benefits.
Immediate Implementation Ordered Across Districts
The Chief Minister has directed all district magistrates to implement this new system immediately, ensuring that farmers face no inconvenience when bringing their wheat to procurement centres. "Farmers will be able to sell their wheat as before," the state government stated in an official release, quoting CM Yogi Adityanath. This directive comes as the wheat procurement season is in full swing across the state.
Background: Previous Registry Requirements and AgriStack Integration
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had decided to make the farmer registry mandatory not only for selling agricultural produce but also for availing benefits under schemes like the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Additionally, the state had proposed shifting fertiliser distribution from a transaction-based authentication system to an identity-based entitlement framework linked to the registry.
According to a government order issued earlier this month by Chief Secretary SP Goyal, approximately 75% of farmers in Uttar Pradesh have already been issued identification cards under the farmer registry and AgriStack scheme. The remaining farmers were slated to be covered through scheduled campaigns and outreach programs.
Procurement Statistics and Infrastructure Preparedness
As of April 20, the state's food and civil supplies department reports that more than 2.38 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been procured from over 42,000 farmers. To facilitate this process, more than 5,400 procurement centres have been established across Uttar Pradesh, with over 4.77 lakh farmers registered for wheat sales so far.
In light of the prevailing extreme heat conditions, Chief Minister Adityanath has also instructed authorities to ensure proper arrangements at all procurement centres. These include provisions for drinking water, fans, shaded areas, and other basic facilities to safeguard the well-being of farmers during transactions.
Policy Implications and Agricultural Support
This policy shift is expected to streamline the wheat procurement process, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and provide immediate relief to farmers who may not have completed the registration process. By removing the registry mandate for wheat sales, the Uttar Pradesh government aims to support agricultural productivity and ensure fair market access for all cultivators during the critical harvest period.
